Jeff Healey, R.I.P.

All I remember about the surprise Top Five ballad "Angel Eyes" is how it served as a balm whenever Warrant, Skid Row, and Paula Abdul came on the radio; it capitalized on the inroads Robert Cray had made a couple of years earlier. Watching the video now, I'm struck by the genetic similarities between Healey and the acts that his class act was supposed to supplant. Note the Daryl Hall hair phenomenon, Eddie Money husk in his voice, and lyrical sentiments you can imagine Jani Lane singing to his sweetie after promising her that heaven isn't too far away (okay, fine, the trademark class-act guitar licks are Healey's alone).